N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - Chadian President Idriss Deby on Thursday decreed a state of emergency across the central African state to tighten security after a rebel attack on the capital N'Djamena this month.

In an address on state television and radio, Deby said his government would take on exceptional powers for 15 days from Friday, as set forth under the constitution of the former French colony.

"These are exceptional measures which I must take to assure the normal functioning of the state," the president said.

A lighting assault by a convoy of 3,000 rebel fighters reached the outskirts of Deby's presidential palace on February 2 before being turned back in two days of confused street fighting in which more than 160 people were killed.

Article 87 of Chad's constitution allows the president to adopt exceptional powers to preserve the territorial integrity of the nation. After an initial 15-day period, they require the approval of the National Assembly to be extended.

Deby said he would appoint presidential missions to monitor the implementation of the measures, including travel restrictions, a curfew and media censorship.

Deby, a former French-trained helicopter pilot who has held power for 18 years, last imposed a state of emergency in 2006, in the wake of the previous attack on N'Djamena by the fractious rebel alliance based over the border in Sudan's western Darfur region.

A week ago, the government announced a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the capital and swathes of eastern and central Chad.

Since their failed assault on N'Djamena, the rebels have withdrawn to the desolate east, blaming France's military support for Deby for preventing his overthrow.

The rebels say the French intervention has made an EU peacekeeping mission, which restarted its deployment to eastern Chad on Tuesday, into a military target.

French troops make up the bulk of the 3,700-strong contingent tasked with protecting some 500,000 refugees from Darfur, eastern Chad and Central African Republic.

With its involvement in Chad under scrutiny, France's army admitted on Thursday that it had transported Libyan munitions to Chad to supply the army's defence of the capital, but it denied that its soldiers fought to keep Deby in power.

On Tuesday, France demanded the immediate clarification of the whereabouts of Chadian opposition leaders detained by soldiers during the dying hours of fighting in N'Djamena.

Chad's Interior Minister Mahamat Ahmat Bachir said they were abducted from rebel-held parts of the city and the government had opened a judicial enquiry.

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Chad declares state of emergency

Mr Deby has accused Sudan of being behind the coup bid
The president of Chad has declared a nationwide state of emergency, saying it was needed to restore order after the recent coup attempt in the capital.
In a speech broadcast on state media, Idriss Deby said the emergency powers would be in effect for 15 days.

They include a night-time curfew and controls on the movement of vehicles.

The rebels, who Chad claims are backed by Sudan, were driven from N'djamena after two days of fighting and back towards the eastern border with Sudan.

Mr Deby said the decree instituted "measures important and urgent to maintain order, guarantee stability and assure the good functioning of the state".

It also authorised "house searches and controls on the private and public press".

Meanwhile, France has acknowledged that its forces transported weapons to Chad's army as it beat back the rebel assault.

The former colonial power said it had acted in accordance with a military co-operation agreement between the two countries.

EU force

The assault began on 2 February, when the rebels seized control of large parts of the capital, approaching the palace where Mr Deby was holding out.

The Red Cross said more than 160 people were killed and 1,000 injured in the fighting.

Mr Deby has accused Sudan of being behind the coup bid.

But Khartoum has previously denied accusations that it backs Chadian rebels by allowing them bases in its border region of Darfur in neighbouring Sudan.

A European Union peacekeeping force is due to arrive in Chad this month, which has a UN mandate to protect civilians and refugees from violence in Darfur, and to provide security for aid agencies.

The deployment of the 4,000-strong force was delayed by the rebel attacks.

Mr Deby seized power in a coup in 1990, but has won three elections since then, although their legitimacy has been challenged.